Aviation Security:
Commercially Available Advanced Explosives Detection Devices
RCED-97-119R: Published: Apr 24, 1997. Publicly Released: May 7, 1997.
Additional Materials:
- Full Report:
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Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided updated information on commercially available advanced explosives detection devices that can be used to screen checked baggage, carry-on items, passengers, cargo, and mail.
GAO noted that: (1) a number of advanced explosives detection devices are commercially available that can increase the probability of detecting concealed explosives; (2) however, all of them have performance limitations; (3) for example, some devices can detect only certain explosives, while others have slow baggage processing rates; (4) others rely almost entirely on the skills of the operators rather than on automatic alarms; (5) despite their various performance limitations, these devices can improve security while providing operational performance information that can be useful in improving the current or next generation of devices; (6) the predominant technologies available for detecting the presence of explosive materials are various types of X-rays, chemical trace detection, and electromagnetic analyses; (7) these technologies are incorporated into a variety of devices used to examine checked baggage, carry-on items and electronic equipment, passengers, cargo, and mail; (8) generally, X-ray devices operate by passing X-rays through screened items and projecting an image of the contents being examined on a monitor; (9) potentially explosive materials are identified by their density, average atomic number, and appearance; (10) the detection capabilities of these devices vary in terms of how the X-ray systems function; (11) the devices also vary in terms of whether the presence of potential explosives is signaled by an automatic alarm or is manually identified by an operator; (12) the Federal Aviation Administration has certified one X-ray device for screening checked bags, the CTX 5000 SP, as meeting its performance standard; (13) chemical trace devices rely on the identification of the presence of explosive vapors and residues that are associated with explosive materials; (14) these devices are also known as "sniffers" or "trace detectors"; (15) samples are obtained through techniques such as using a wipe or a vacuum, examining a document or some other item that has been handled by the passenger, or sampling air gathered at walk-through portals; (16) for each technique, the sample is analyzed by a device to detect explosives; (17) most of these devices include an automatic alarm when explosive materials are found; (18) electromagnetic devices generally use radio frequency pulses that probe baggage or other items to elicit unique responses that would be associated with explosive materials; and (19) these devices generally include an automatic alarm if the presence of explosives is detected.
Jan 7, 2021
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Aircraft Noise:
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Dec 18, 2020
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Automated Technologies:
DOT Should Take Steps to Ensure Its Workforce Has Skills Needed to Oversee SafetyGAO-21-197: Published: Dec 18, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 18, 2020.
Dec 17, 2020
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Emergency Responder Safety:
States and DOT Are Implementing Actions to Reduce Roadside CrashesGAO-21-166: Published: Dec 17, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 17, 2020.
Nov 24, 2020
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Reagan National Airport:
Information on Effects of Federal Statute Limiting Long-Distance FlightsGAO-21-176: Published: Nov 24, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 24, 2020.
Nov 19, 2020
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Federal-Aid Highways:
States and Local Governments Reported Benefits to Federal Highway Fund Swapping, but Impacts Cannot be Definitively DeterminedGAO-21-88: Published: Oct 20, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 19, 2020.
Nov 16, 2020
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Aviation Certification:
FAA Needs to Strengthen Its Design Review Process for Small AirplanesGAO-21-85: Published: Nov 16, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 16, 2020.
Nov 9, 2020
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Aviation Safety:
FAA's Office of Aviation Safety Should Take Additional Actions to Ensure Its Workforce Has Needed SkillsGAO-21-94: Published: Nov 9, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 9, 2020.
Oct 29, 2020
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Puerto Rico:
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Sep 30, 2020
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Supplemental Material For GAO-20-686:
Transit Asset Management: Survey of TAM Program ParticipantsGAO-20-687SP: Published: Sep 30, 2020. Publicly Released: Sep 30, 2020. -
Transit Asset Management:
FTA Should Clarify Performance Data and Develop a Plan to Guide Future Program ImprovementsGAO-20-686: Published: Sep 30, 2020. Publicly Released: Sep 30, 2020.
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